JP2009154392A - Image processing apparatus, printing apparatus, image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

When recording (printing) an image on a front and rear end portion of a recording medium by a recording apparatus (printing apparatus) such as an ink jet printer, the deterioration of image quality is suppressed while suppressing a decrease in recording speed.
For a printing apparatus provided with a printing unit for printing an image on the recording medium using a plurality of types of color materials between a conveyance roller and a paper discharge roller, image data to be printed is displayed in a first mode. Alternatively, the color separation means for performing color separation in the second mode in which a color material having a larger capacity than that in the first mode is used, and in the image data, the recording medium is fed by only one of the transport roller or the paper discharge roller. Determination means for determining the presence of data corresponding to an image printed in a sandwiched state, and when the color separation means is determined not to exist by the determination means, the image in the first mode Data is color-separated, and when it is determined by the determining means that the image data is separated in the second mode.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for color-separating image data to be printed.

  In recent years, information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and word processors are widely used. In addition, various recording devices for recording information output from these information processing devices on various recording media such as paper have become widespread. In particular, the ink jet recording apparatus has various advantages such as low noise, low running cost, small size, and relatively easy colorization, and is used in a wide range of users.

  Recently, there has been an increasing demand for outputting images taken with a digital camera in the same quality as a silver halide photograph. However, at the front end portion or the rear end portion of the recording medium, due to the configuration of the recording device, the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium tends to decrease, and the recording quality tends to decrease. The main cause of the deterioration of the recording quality is that the recording medium comes off from some of a plurality of rollers that support and convey the recording medium before and after the recording head. Here, with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus and the cause of the deterioration of the recording quality will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a recording head, a recording medium, and a transport mechanism that transports the recording medium when recording is performed on the central portion of the recording medium by an ink jet recording apparatus. In FIG. 7, a transport roller 3060 on the upstream side in the transport direction and two paper discharge rollers 3100 and 3110 on the downstream side cooperate with a pinch roller 3070 and two spurs 3120 and 3120, respectively. That is, these rollers form three sets of nip portions, and the recording medium 2000 is nipped and conveyed.

  The recording head cartridge 1000 has a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements for ejecting ink are arranged at a predetermined pitch in a direction parallel to the transport direction in FIG. The recording head cartridge 1000 ejects ink from each recording element while moving and scanning in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 7, and enters the area of the recording medium 2000 located between the transport roller 3060 and the paper discharge roller 3100. On the other hand, an image is formed. Images are sequentially formed on the recording medium 2000 by alternately repeating the recording scanning by the recording head cartridge 1000 and the conveying operation of the recording medium 2000 by the three roller pairs.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which recording further proceeds from the state of FIG. 7 and recording is performed on the vicinity of the rear end portion of the recording medium 2000. The recording medium 2000 is already removed from the conveyance roller 3060 and is conveyed only by the paper discharge rollers 3100 and 3110.

  In general, there are often slight differences in roller diameter and conveyance accuracy between the conveyance roller 3060 and the paper discharge rollers 3100 and 3110 due to the difference in their main roles. The transport roller 3060 is mainly responsible for positioning the recording medium at an appropriate position with respect to the recording head for each recording scan. Therefore, the transport roller 3060 has a sufficiently large roller diameter, and can perform a transport operation with relatively high accuracy. On the other hand, the paper discharge rollers 3100 and 3110 have a main role of reliably discharging the recording medium after recording. Accordingly, the paper discharge rollers 3100 and 3110 have a smaller roller diameter and inferior recording medium conveyance accuracy compared to the conveyance roller 3060. Accordingly, the conveyance accuracy is higher in the area from the time when the rear end of the recording medium 2000 is removed from the conveyance roller 3060 to the end of the recording of the rearmost end of the recording medium 2000 compared to the area before that. An image is formed in a lowered situation. At this time, if the carry amount is insufficient, the image forming portion between adjacent print scans overlaps to generate a so-called “black streak”. A so-called “white streak” may occur due to separation of the image forming portion. Due to the occurrence of black and white lines, the quality of the recorded image is degraded.

  Further, the recording quality is deteriorated due to the fact that both ends of the recording medium 2000 are not held. When the rear end portion of the recording medium 2000 is removed from the conveyance roller 3060, the distance between the recording head and the recording medium (hereinafter referred to as “inter-paper distance”) fluctuates not a little, and thereafter, the state becomes unstable. The recording head cartridge 1000 performs recording scanning while ejecting ink at a timing corresponding to a predetermined inter-paper distance maintained by the front and rear rollers. The ink ejected at an appropriate timing becomes dots on the recording medium, and an image is formed by arranging the ink at an appropriate pitch. Therefore, if the inter-paper distance changes during recording, or if the inter-paper distance varies greatly within the recording width (one recording scan), the dot position on the recording medium changes inappropriately. White stripes, black stripes, or a rough feeling occur.

  Such a problem of the inter-paper distance similarly occurs when recording not only the rear end portion of the recording medium 2000 but also the front end portion.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state where recording is performed on the vicinity of the front end portion of the recording medium 2000. In this state, the recording medium 2000 is held and conveyed only by the upstream conveying roller 3060 and the pinch roller 3070. That is, when the leading end is recorded, the discharge rollers 3100 and 3110 are not involved in transporting the recording medium 2000. Therefore, it can be said that the conveyance is performed with higher accuracy than the state where the vicinity of the rear end portion described in FIG. 8 is recorded. However, the problem of the inter-paper distance due to the fact that the leading end of the recording medium 2000 is not held occurs similarly to the state of FIG. That is, the dot position accuracy on the recording medium becomes unstable as compared with the recording at the center of the recording medium 2000 (the state of FIG. 7).

  In view of the above problems, there has been proposed an ink jet recording apparatus that suppresses a decrease in recording quality at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the recording medium by adopting a special recording method at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the recording medium. Yes. For example, the following measures are taken in a serial type recording apparatus in which image quality is particularly important.

  That is, when recording the leading and trailing edges, the recording width of the recording head (that is, the number of recording elements that actually eject ink) is narrowed, and the conveyance amount of the recording medium is also reduced accordingly. By narrowing the recording width of the recording head, fluctuations in the distance between sheets in one recording scan can be suppressed. In this case, if multi-pass printing, which will be described later, is performed, the effect is also exhibited against roughness. Even in a situation where the conveyance accuracy is lowered, the conveyance error can be reduced by reducing the conveyance amount of the recording medium. Further, coupled with the fact that the pitch of the connecting portions of the image forming portions between adjacent recording scans becomes fine, there is an effect that white stripes and black stripes become inconspicuous.

  Also, an ink jet recording that employs an interlace recording method that uses a recording head in which the arrangement density of the recording elements is lower than the recording density and completes an image while interpolating the recording density in the sub-scanning direction by a plurality of recording scans. Similar measures are taken in the apparatus. That is, the number of recording elements that actually eject ink only at the front and rear ends is suppressed, and the conveyance amount of the recording medium is adjusted accordingly.

Further, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, in the case of recording on the front and rear end portions of the recording medium, in addition to narrowing the recording width of the recording head, the configuration in which the use area in the nozzle arrangement range of the recording head is switched is changed. Is disclosed. That is, when recording at the leading end of the recording medium, a partial area located downstream in the transport direction in the nozzle arrangement range is used, and when recording at the trailing end of the recording medium, it is positioned upstream in the transport direction. Use a part of the area. In this way, by switching the use area of the nozzle array range of the recording head between the front end portion and the rear end portion of the recording medium, the area where the white and black stripes are conspicuous at the front and rear end portions of the recording medium can be further reduced. Is also possible.
JP 2002-103584 A JP 2002-103585 A

  As described above, when recording is performed at the front and rear end portions of a recording medium in which white stripes and black stripes are conspicuous, control is known in which the recording width of the recording head is narrowed so that deterioration in recording quality is less noticeable. However, both of these controls narrow the recording width of the recording head, resulting in a decrease in recording speed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. In the present invention, when an image is recorded (printed) on the front and rear end portions of a recording medium by a recording device (printing device) such as an ink jet printer, the deterioration of image quality is suppressed while suppressing a decrease in recording speed. The purpose is to provide technology.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the first aspect of the present invention includes a transport roller and a paper discharge roller that sandwich and transport a recording medium, and prints an image on the recording medium using a plurality of types of color materials. For a printing apparatus provided with a unit between the transport roller and the paper discharge roller, the image data to be printed is a second mode in which a color material having a larger capacity than the first mode or the first mode is used. A color separation unit that performs color separation in a mode, and a determination for determining the presence of data corresponding to an image to be printed in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched by only one of the conveyance roller or the discharge roller in the image data And the color separation means color-separates the image data in the first mode when it is determined that the determination means does not exist, and when the determination means determines that the image data exists. To provide an image processing apparatus characterized by color decomposing the image data in the mode.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveyance roller and a discharge roller for nipping and conveying the recording medium, and a printing unit for printing an image on the recording medium using a plurality of types of color materials. A color for color separation of image data to be printed in the first mode or the second mode in which a color material having a larger capacity than the first mode is used for the printing apparatus provided between the paper discharge rollers. A separation step, and a determination step of determining presence of data corresponding to an image to be printed in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched by only one of the transport roller or the paper discharge roller in the image data, In the color separation process, when it is determined that the image data does not exist in the determination process, the image data is color-separated in the first mode, and when it is determined that the image data exists in the determination process, the image is processed in the second mode. To provide an image processing method characterized by color decomposing over data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport unit that transports a computer while sandwiching a recording medium and a paper discharge roller, and the transport unit that prints an image on the recording medium using a plurality of types of color materials. For the printing apparatus provided between the roller and the paper discharge roller, the image data to be printed is color-separated in the first mode or in the second mode in which a larger amount of color material is used than in the first mode. Functioning as color separation means for determining the presence of data corresponding to an image to be printed in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched by only one of the transport roller or the paper discharge roller in the image data. If the determination means determines that the color separation means does not exist, the color separation means color-separates the image data in the first mode and exists in the determination means. When it is determined to provide a program, characterized by color separation of the image data in the second mode.

  Other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention.

  With the above configuration, according to the present invention, when an image is recorded (printed) on the front and rear end portions of a recording medium by a recording device (printing device) such as an ink jet printer, image quality can be reduced while suppressing a decrease in recording speed. It becomes possible to suppress the manifestation of deterioration.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The individual embodiments described below will help to understand various concepts from the superordinate concept to the subordinate concept of the present invention.

  The technical scope of the present invention is determined by the claims, and is not limited by the following individual embodiments. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a personal computer (PC) will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a printing system 20 including a PC 14 as an image processing apparatus and a printer 13 as a recording apparatus (printing apparatus). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the printer 13 is an ink jet printer.

  The printer 13 includes a carriage 2. The carriage 2 mounts a plurality of (for example, five) recording head cartridges 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E in a replaceable manner. In addition, when referring to the whole or any one of the plurality of recording head cartridges 1A to 1E, the recording head cartridge 1 is simply referred to.

  Each of the recording head cartridges 1 has an ink tank in the upper part and a recording head (ink discharge part) as a printing unit in the lower part, and has a structure in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated. The recording head cartridge 1 is mounted on the carriage 2 so as to be replaceable. Each recording head cartridge 1 has a connector (drive signal) for receiving a signal (driving signal) for driving the recording head. (Not shown) is provided.

  Further, the carriage 2 is provided with a connector holder (electrical connection portion) for transmitting a drive signal and the like to each recording head cartridge 1 through this connector. Each recording head cartridge 1 on the carriage 2 and the control circuit of the printer 13 main body are connected by a flexible cable for flowing a signal pulse current, a temperature control current, and the like.

  The recording head cartridge 1A holds black (black) (hereinafter, “K”) pigment ink in an ink tank as a color material. Similarly, the print head cartridges 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E are cyan (hereinafter “C”), magenta (hereinafter “M”), yellow (hereinafter “Y”), gray (hereinafter “G”), respectively. ) Dye ink. That is, the recording head cartridge 1 performs recording using a plurality of types of color materials. On the surface of the recording head of the recording head cartridge 1 facing the recording medium 8 (downward discharge port surface in the example in the figure), discharge ports for discharging ink droplets are formed in a predetermined arrangement, It is configured to eject the retained ink.

  The carriage 2 is guided and supported so as to reciprocate along a guide shaft 3 installed in the main body of the printer 13 so as to extend in the main scanning direction. The carriage 2 is driven by the main scanning motor 4 via the motor pulley 5, the driven pulley 6, and the timing belt 7, and its position and movement are controlled.

  A recording medium 8 such as paper or a plastic sheet is sandwiched between a pair of transport rollers 9 and 10 and a pair of paper discharge rollers 11 and 12, and faces the discharge port surface of the recording head cartridge 1 by the rotation of these rollers. The paper is conveyed (paper feed) through the position (recording unit). Note that the back surface of the recording medium 8 is supported by a platen (not shown) so as to form a flat recording surface in the recording unit. Further, the recording head cartridge 1 mounted on the carriage 2 is held so that the discharge port surfaces thereof protrude downward from the carriage 2 and are parallel to the recording medium 8 between the two pairs of rollers.

  Note that, as described in the section of the background art, in recording at the leading end portion of the recording medium 8, the recording medium 8 is sandwiched only by the pair of transport rollers 9 and 10. Similarly, in recording at the rear end portion of the recording medium 8, the recording medium 8 is sandwiched only by the pair of paper discharge rollers 11 and 12. Accordingly, in an area where an image is printed while being sandwiched by only one of the transport rollers 9 and 10 or the paper discharge rollers 11 and 12, the dot positions formed on the recording medium 8 by the recording head become unstable. For this reason, the image quality is likely to be deteriorated as compared with the central region that is sandwiched and recorded by the two roller pairs.

  The printer 13 having the above-described configuration is connected to the PC 14 via the cable 15 and is controlled by driver software installed in the PC 14.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 14. The PC 14 includes a CPU 202, a memory 203, an external storage device 204, an input unit 205, and an interface 206 for connecting to the printer 13.

  The CPU 202 executes various types of image processing such as color processing (color correction, color separation, etc.) and quantization processing described later by executing a program (driver software) stored in the memory 203. This program may be stored in the external storage device 204 or may be supplied from outside the PC 14. The PC 14 is connected to the printer 13 via the interface 206, and transmits image data subjected to image processing to the printer 13 for recording.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of image processing executed by the CPU 202 of the PC 14. The image data to be printed is usually expressed by an RGB color system that is a color system suitable for the PC 14. Hereinafter, for the sake of explanation, it is assumed that image data to be printed is represented by 8 bits for each of RGB. Note that image data to be printed is stored in, for example, the external storage device 204, and is loaded into the memory 203 by the CPU 202 in response to a print instruction from the user via the input unit 205.

  In step S <b> 301, the CPU 202 performs color correction on the image data to be printed (RGB 8-bit data) according to the application of the image (photograph, graphic, etc.) (the data after color correction is “R′G′B ′”). Called 8-bit data). A three-dimensional lookup table (3D-LUT) can be used for color correction.

  In step S <b> 302, the CPU 202 performs processing (color separation processing) for converting R′G′B ′ 8-bit data into image data corresponding to the ink color held by the recording head cartridge 1. As a result of the color separation processing, in this embodiment, image data expressed by 8 bits for each CMYKG is generated. A 3D-LUT can also be used for color separation. Details of the processing in S302 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S303, the CPU 202 performs processing (quantization processing) for converting the CMYKG 8-bit data into data having a predetermined number of recording bits (1 bit in the present embodiment) adapted to the printer 13. Any known technique (for example, an error diffusion method or a dither method) can be used as the quantization method.

  The printer 13 can receive the image data subjected to the above processing via the cable 15 and record the image.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the color separation processing in S302 of FIG.

  In step S401, the CPU 202 grasps the layout of the image data to be printed on the recording medium 8 based on the print information such as the paper size and the print position (for example, “center of paper”, “upper part of paper”, etc.). The print information is instructed by the user via, for example, a user interface displayed on the display of the PC 14 by the driver software.

  In step S402, the CPU 202 performs printing in a state where the recording medium 8 is sandwiched by only one of the two roller pairs of the transport rollers 9, 10 or the discharge rollers 11, 12 based on the layout grasped in step S401. It is determined whether or not an image exists. At this time, the CPU 202 refers to roller holding area data indicating an area on the recording medium 8 on which an image is printed in a state where the recording medium 8 is sandwiched by only one of the two roller pairs. The roller holding area data is stored in the external storage device 204, for example.

  In other words, the processing in S401 and S402 determines the presence of data corresponding to an image to be printed in a state where the recording medium 8 is sandwiched by only one of the transport roller or the discharge roller in the image data to be printed. It is processing. If such data exists, the process proceeds to S404, and if not, the process proceeds to S403.

  In step S403, the CPU 202 performs color separation on the image data to be printed in the first mode. On the other hand, in S404, the CPU 202 performs color separation on the image data to be printed in the second mode. Details of the first mode and the second mode will be described later with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Briefly, the printer 13 uses (discharges) when printing image data that has been color-separated in the second mode. The volume of ink to be performed is larger than that in the first mode.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a 3D-LUT for color separation in the first mode. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a 3D-LUT for color separation in the second mode. For ease of explanation, FIGS. 5 and 6 show only the achromatic axis, that is, the gray gradation from white to black, but the following explanation applies to the entire chromatic color region as well. . The horizontal axis indicates the luminance of the image data before color separation in 16 gradations. The smaller the numerical value, the brighter the data, and the larger the numerical value, the darker the data.

  In the first mode (FIG. 5), the image data to be printed is decomposed into only four colors of CMYK. On the other hand, in the second mode (FIG. 6), the image data to be printed is separated into five colors of CMYKG. The total ink capacity indicated by the vertical axis on the right side is larger in FIG. As described above, the same applies to the chromatic color region.

  A large total ink capacity means that the total amount of ink applied to a predetermined area of the recording medium 8 is large. As a result, the ink coverage increases on the surface of the recording medium 8. Conversely, a small total ink capacity means that the total amount of ink applied to a predetermined area of the recording medium 8 is also small. As a result, the ink coverage is also lowered.

  When the ink coverage is high, even if landing deviation (inappropriate fluctuation of the dot position described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9) occurs, the deterioration of the image quality is not so obvious. However, if a landing deviation occurs in a state where the ink coverage is low, degradation of image quality becomes obvious. This is because the probability that the color of the recording medium 8 itself can be seen more (in a large area) is higher when the coverage is low than when the coverage is high, and therefore, the change in the color appearance of the recording medium 8 due to landing deviation. Because it becomes intense.

  Therefore, if there is an area to be recorded while being sandwiched by only one of the transport roller and the paper discharge roller, if color separation is performed in the second mode in which the amount of ink used is large, the leading edge of the recording medium 8 and It is possible to reduce the manifestation of image quality deterioration at the rear end.

  On the other hand, if there is no area to be recorded in a state where it is nipped only by one of the transport roller or the discharge roller, it is possible to suppress wasteful ink consumption by performing color separation in the first mode in which the amount of ink used is small. can do.

  In this embodiment, the ink usage amount is only increased or decreased by switching the color separation mode, and other conditions (number of recording passes, head recording width, etc.) are not changed. The decrease is also suppressed.

<Modification 1>
In the above embodiment, when there is an image to be printed in a state where the recording medium 8 is sandwiched by only one of the transport roller and the paper discharge roller, the entire image data is color-separated in the second mode. However, even in the case where such an image exists, for the data corresponding to the image printed with the recording medium 8 held between both the transport roller and the paper discharge roller, color separation is performed in the first mode. May be. As described above, by switching the color separation mode according to the printing area, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink used with respect to the central portion of the recording medium 8.

<Modification 2>
In the above embodiment, gray ink is used as ink other than CMYK. However, at least one kind of color material having the same hue and low density as CMY, that is, light cyan, light magenta, or the like is used. May be used. That is, in the second mode, the PC 14 has at least one kind of color material having the same hue and low density as one of the kind of color material used in the first mode in addition to the kind of color material used in the first mode. The image data can be color-separated so that the following color materials are used.

<Modification 3>
In the above embodiment, the printer 13 is an ink jet printer. However, the above-described embodiment can be applied to printers of other systems, for example, electrophotographic printers. In this case, the transfer drum corresponds to the printing unit, and the toner corresponds to the color material.

<Modification 4>
In the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus of the present invention is configured by the PC 14 executing the driver software. However, the image processing apparatus of the present invention may be mounted on the printer 13. In this case, the printer 13 executes the color separation process described with reference to FIGS. Accordingly, the printer 13 (printing apparatus) having such a configuration is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  Further, a part of the image processing described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 may be executed by the printer 13.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, a pair of the transport rollers 9 and 10 and the paper discharge rollers 11 and 12 exist, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as in FIG. , 12 may exist in two pairs.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the PC 14 corresponds to data corresponding to an image to be printed in a state where the recording medium 8 is sandwiched by only one of the conveyance roller and the paper discharge roller in the image data to be printed. Determine the existence of When such data does not exist, the PC 14 performs color separation on the image data in the first mode, and when present, performs color separation on the second mode in which a larger amount of color material is used than in the first mode.

  As a result, when an image is recorded (printed) on the front and rear end portions of the recording medium by a recording device (printing device) such as an ink jet printer, the deterioration of the image quality is suppressed while suppressing a decrease in recording speed. Is possible.

<Modification 5>
In the above example, the configuration of the ink to be used is changed between the first recording mode and the second recording mode. However, two modes with different ink usage may be set with the same ink configuration.

  This modification will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a 3D-LUT for color separation in the first mode. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a 3D-LUT for color separation in the second mode. As in FIGS. 5 and 6, for the sake of simplicity, FIGS. 10 and 11 show only the achromatic color axis, that is, the gray gradation from white to black, but for the entire chromatic color region. The following explanation applies as well. The horizontal axis indicates the luminance of the image data before color separation in 16 gradations. The smaller the numerical value, the brighter the data, and the larger the numerical value, the darker the data.

  In both the first mode (FIG. 10) and the second mode (FIG. 11), the image data to be printed is decomposed into only four colors of CMYK. However, in the first mode (FIG. 10), K data enters from a brighter gradation than in the second mode (FIG. 11), and the amount of use is increased over the entire gradation. Since the amount of K having a higher density than CMY is small, the amount of CMY used in the second mode (FIG. 11) is larger than that in the first (FIG. 10) mode. As a result, the total ink capacity indicated by the vertical axis on the right side is larger in the second mode (FIG. 11) in almost the entire region. As described above, the same applies to the chromatic color region. In this way, even with the same ink configuration, two modes with different ink usage can be set by switching the color separation table.

[Other Embodiments]
In order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a recording medium in which a program code of software embodying each function is recorded may be provided to the system or apparatus. The functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for supplying such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like can be used. Alternatively, a CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.

  The configuration for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is not limited to executing the program code read by the computer. Including the case where the OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. It is.

  Further, the program code read from the recording medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. Is included.

1 is a diagram illustrating a printing system including a personal computer (PC) as an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment and a printer as a recording apparatus (printing apparatus). It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the image processing which CPU of PC concerning 1st Embodiment performs. 4 is a flowchart illustrating details of color separation processing in S302 of FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of 3D-LUT for the color separation in a 1st mode. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of 3D-LUT for the color separation in a 2nd mode. It is a figure which shows typically the conveyance mechanism which conveys a recording head, a recording medium, and a recording medium when recording in the center part of a recording medium with the inkjet recording device. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which recording further proceeds from the state of FIG. 7 and recording is performed on the vicinity of the rear end portion of the recording medium. It is a figure which shows the state which is recording with respect to the front-end | tip part vicinity of a recording medium. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of 3D-LUT for the color separation in the 1st mode in the modification 5. FIG. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of 3D-LUT for the color separation in the 2nd mode in the modification 5. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1A to 1E Recording head cartridge 2 Carriage 3 Guide shaft 4 Main scanning motor 5 Motor pulley 6 Driven pulley 7 Timing belt 8 Recording medium 9, 10 Transport rollers 11, 12 Paper discharge roller 13 Printer 14 Personal computer (PC)
15 cable

Claims (9)

A conveyance roller and a discharge roller for nipping and conveying the recording medium are provided, and a printing unit for printing an image on the recording medium using a plurality of types of color materials is provided between the conveyance roller and the discharge roller. Color separation means for color-separating image data to be printed in a first mode or a second mode in which a color material having a larger capacity than the first mode is used for a printing apparatus;
Determining means for determining presence of data corresponding to an image to be printed in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched by only one of the transport roller or the discharge roller in the image data;
With
The color separation means color-separates the image data in the first mode when it is determined that the determination means does not exist, and the image data in the second mode when it is determined that the determination means exists. An image processing apparatus characterized in that color separation is performed.   Even if the color separation means is determined to be present by the determination means, the image data is printed in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched by both the transport roller and the paper discharge roller. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data corresponding to an image is color-separated in the first mode.   In the second mode, the color separation means has the same hue and low density as any of the types of color materials used in the first mode, in addition to the types of color materials used in the first mode. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is color-separated so that at least one kind of color material is used. The plurality of types of color materials include a black color material and a gray color material,
The color separation means color-separates the image data so that the gray color material is not used in the first mode and the gray color material is used in the second mode. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The printing apparatus is an ink jet printer,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is a recording head. The printing apparatus is an electrophotographic printer,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is a transfer drum.   A printing apparatus comprising the image processing apparatus according to claim 1. A conveyance roller and a discharge roller for nipping and conveying the recording medium are provided, and a printing unit for printing an image on the recording medium using a plurality of types of color materials is provided between the conveyance roller and the discharge roller. A color separation process for color-separating image data to be printed in a first mode or a second mode in which a color material having a larger capacity than the first mode is used for a printing apparatus;
A determination step of determining presence of data corresponding to an image to be printed in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched by only one of the transport roller or the discharge roller in the image data;
With
In the color separation step, if it is determined that the image data does not exist in the determination step, the image data is color-separated in the first mode, and if it is determined that the image data exists in the determination step, the image data in the second mode. An image processing method characterized by separating colors. A printing unit for printing an image on the recording medium using a plurality of types of color materials is provided between the carrying roller and the paper discharge roller. A color separation means for color-separating image data to be printed in a first mode or a second mode in which a color material having a capacity larger than that in the first mode is used.
Determining means for determining presence of data corresponding to an image to be printed in a state in which the recording medium is sandwiched by only one of the transport roller or the discharge roller in the image data;
Is a program for functioning as
The color separation means color-separates the image data in the first mode when it is determined that the determination means does not exist, and the image data in the second mode when it is determined that the determination means exists. A program characterized by color separation.

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